Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 29, 2024, 07:58:18 am

Login with username, password and session length


Members
  • Total Members: 37614
  • Latest: bondann
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772953
  • Total Topics: 66311
  • Online Today: 741
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 0
Guests: 462
Total: 462

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Author Topic: My feet are killing me  (Read 7979 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline yesican

  • Member
  • Posts: 27
My feet are killing me
« on: September 26, 2009, 02:54:34 pm »
Im not sure I am posting this in the right place, but here goes. I was diagnosed in late december 08. I am on meds and my numbers are climbing, I am also now undetectable. Lately my feet are killing me. Most of the time its my heels, they feel like there just raw. I first thought it was a new pair of shoes I haad bought but thats not it and in the last few days they just feel tingly at times. Standing is becoming difficuly if I have to stand in one spot for a long time, walking doen't seem to bother me. I am getting old 48 and it may just be age not to meantion crippling arthuritis does run in my family. I was just wondering if this  could me from the hiv and if anyone had experienced this before. im so new to all this but im trying really hard to educate myself as best as I know how. thanks anyone who can give me information on this.

Offline J.R.E.

  • Member
  • Posts: 8,207
  • Positive since 1985, joined forums 12/03
Re: My feet are killing me
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2009, 03:29:03 pm »
Hi,

You need to mention this to your doctor.  It is a possibility, it could be the beginning of peripheral Neuropathy (PN).  The "tingling"  in the feet , is how it started for me. Mine started several months after starting on medication, in October of 2003.

What are all the current medications that you are taking ?

http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/Neuropathy_6910.shtml


Ray
« Last Edit: September 26, 2009, 03:32:45 pm by J.R.E. »
Current Meds ; Viramune / Epzicom Eliquis, Diltiazem. Pravastatin 80mg, Ezetimibe. UPDATED 2/18/24
 Tested positive in 1985,.. In October of 2003, My t-cell count was 16, Viral load was over 500,000, Percentage at that time was 5%. I started on  HAART on October 24th, 2003.

 As of Oct 2nd, 2023, Viral load Undetectable.
CD 4 @676 /  CD4 % @ 18 %
Lymphocytes,absolute-3815 (within range)


72 YEARS YOUNG

Offline confidentIwillbeOK

  • Member
  • Posts: 131
Re: My feet are killing me
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2009, 07:03:32 pm »
yesican and J.R.E., interesting timing on this post as I have been doing a lot of research the past few days about this. 

I was at a "Just Diagnosed" meeting on Thursday night and at the end I somehow brought up foot pain I have been having with a nutritionist who was there.  He recommended taking an alpha lipoic acid supplement.  When I googled it the first link I read mentioned peripheral neuropathy under the "Why People Use Alpha Lipoic Acid" section.  As I read the link about PN it exactly described the symptoms I have been having.  My foot pain started a few moths to half year before seroconversion and I am not yet on meds.  It has become very concerning to me and I have done X-Rays and have an MRI scheduled next week to help my doctor figure it out.  My pain is a shooting/stinging pain that started in the bottom center of my foot but has been dancing around the top, bottom, side, toes, ankle, etc...in the past few weeks.  I told the doctor that I thought it was nerve related but that was before I read about PN so when I told him it was just kind of in passing when I was describing the pain.

For those of you that are familiar with PN can you provide any additional info you have about it concerning when it was diagnosed relative to HIV, how quickly it progressed, how it is being treated and how much pain or discomfort you continue to have, and if it affects your quality of life.  I don't know why but I am more scared about this than HIV.  I have cried twice about HIV (when my partner first told me and for 2 seconds when I told my mother which was 90 minutes after we got my test results) but for some reason have become consumed thinking about my foot pain (at this point it is just my left foot and leg) and have cried or lost sleep at least 4 or 5 times thinking about it.

I am fit, active, healthy, a non-smoker, not a drug user, don't have diabetes, don't have any known hereditary issues related to PT, have a very good diet, and don't have any kidney issues so if it is PT I really don't know where it came from.  I am slightly fearful that HIV has made it worse (due to inflammation) and that I am going to have to deal with a second major issue within 2 months. 

Again, any info would be really appreciated.  BTW I am 40. 

Thanks,
Steve

Offline Snowangel

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,429
Re: My feet are killing me
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2009, 07:46:05 pm »
Yesican-
Do your feet hurt all the time or do they start to hurt after you have been standing for awhile? Do they start to feel better after you have been off them for a bit?
Mine have been killing me too,  after being on them for awhile so I was just wondering?

Snow
Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important

The heaviest thing you can carry is a grudge..

One thing you can give and still keep...is your word.

One thing you can't recycle is wasted time.

Offline Dale Parker

  • Member
  • Posts: 267
Re: My feet are killing me
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2009, 08:38:26 pm »
Hey Guys: are you going to a regular doctor or ID doctor.  Have you tried going to a Podiatrist?  They specialize in feet and may be able to help you better the other doctors.  Being around smelly feet all day they may be able to diagnose you from the description you give and the look of your feet.  May save you a few bucks on having MRI and other tests.

Yesican: 48 OLD!!!!!! In another 2 years you should legally be able to have a mid life crisis.  LOL
Apr 09  CD4 21, CD4/CD8 ratio 0 VL 500,000+
July 09 CD4 158, CD4/CD812% VL 750
Oct 09 CD4 157 CD4/CD8 14% VL UD
Feb 10 CD4 197, CD4/CD8 11% VL UD
May 10  CD4 252 CD4/CD8 12% VL UD
Aug 10 CD4 211 VL UD
Nov 10 CD4 272 CD4/CD8 0.138 VL UD

Offline confidentIwillbeOK

  • Member
  • Posts: 131
Re: My feet are killing me
« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2009, 09:22:55 pm »
My doctor is an internist who is also ID/HIV specialist.  I asked him about a podiatrist appointment but he wanted to do the X-Ray and MRI before he sent me to a specialist.  As the pain has gotten worse and the symptoms have changed since I met with him 3 weeks ago I called the office on Friday to accelerate the referral.  It does not seem foot related per se though as the pain/tingling is moving up the leg and is not localized to one spot.  I e-mailed and called a brother in law who is an ortho surgeon for his thoughts on what I should do next but have not gotten through to him yet.....

Offline yesican

  • Member
  • Posts: 27
Re: My feet are killing me
« Reply #6 on: September 26, 2009, 11:01:06 pm »
My dr is a ID doc. I don't have another as I can't afford insurance anymore. The pain does seem to go away after being off them for a while, I have no pain in my legs at all. It is usually just in one heel but at times in the last few days the tingling has started. I have a dr appt. early oct so I will address it with his then. I can't believe all the responce I have got in such a short period of time, I don't know what i would do without this sight.  Thanks to all    !!!!

Offline mecch

  • Member
  • Posts: 13,455
  • red pill? or blue pill?
Re: My feet are killing me
« Reply #7 on: September 27, 2009, 04:33:38 am »
Yesican - I had mild foot pain a couple of months in the beginning of taking HAART.  It has since disappeared.
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline J.R.E.

  • Member
  • Posts: 8,207
  • Positive since 1985, joined forums 12/03
Re: My feet are killing me
« Reply #8 on: September 27, 2009, 06:40:34 am »

For those of you that are familiar with PN can you provide any additional info you have about it concerning when it was diagnosed relative to HIV, how quickly it progressed, how it is being treated and how much pain or discomfort you continue to have, and if it affects your quality of life.

Thanks,
Steve

Steve,

Here's a couple links from previous discussions, on the forums :

http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=28025.0


http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=26929.0


But if you do a search, using the search option ( bottom left)  you will find plenty of more discussion on it.


Take care----Ray
Current Meds ; Viramune / Epzicom Eliquis, Diltiazem. Pravastatin 80mg, Ezetimibe. UPDATED 2/18/24
 Tested positive in 1985,.. In October of 2003, My t-cell count was 16, Viral load was over 500,000, Percentage at that time was 5%. I started on  HAART on October 24th, 2003.

 As of Oct 2nd, 2023, Viral load Undetectable.
CD 4 @676 /  CD4 % @ 18 %
Lymphocytes,absolute-3815 (within range)


72 YEARS YOUNG

Offline rabit64

  • Member
  • Posts: 34
Re: My feet are killing me
« Reply #9 on: September 30, 2009, 05:58:46 pm »
sympathise with you all. I have PN in both feet. It started before I began ART so is not drug related. It is there all the time, and is worse standing. The one thing that I have found that eases it for a short while is foot massage. It has upset me more than my HIV result, But I suppose that we still should be grateful, things could be worse.

Offline Theyer

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,701
  • Current ambition. Walk the Dog .
Re: My feet are killing me
« Reply #10 on: September 30, 2009, 06:22:33 pm »
hi.--constant pain messes with your emotions.I was lucky to be referred to a Pain Control Consultant and eventually got a cocktail off drugs to manage it.If you goggle PN you will see there are organizations working on the problem. Take care theyer
"If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people ."  Tony Benn

Offline confidentIwillbeOK

  • Member
  • Posts: 131
Re: My feet are killing me
« Reply #11 on: September 30, 2009, 06:31:13 pm »
Do you have any idea how long you were + before getting PN or was the PN before being infected?  I don't have a diagnosis yet but I had the MRI Monday and am waiting to hear from my doctor on what the next steps are. 

I am going to try a massage and see if that helps.  I recently started playing hoops again and I have some aches and pains.  My foot pain is not worse (and is maybe better) when I am active and after the X-Rays were negative I figured running around and jumping a bit would not be detrimental. 

On a sidenote playing basketball was awesome.  I haven't felt better post diagnosis than I have since last week when I started playing (in a gay basketball league).  I hit a whole bunch of shots and in general played very well and it just made me feel good about myself. In the past 2 months I have remained active and haven't let my diagnosis get in the way of "life" but getting out there on the court with a nice group of guys really made me feel better.  Hopefully the foot thing isn't going to be a big deal....

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.